THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The controversial statement of Union Home Minister P Chidambaram on the Mullaperiyar issue has evoked instant and strong reaction from a cross-section of political leaders in the state, including Congress party. Chidamabaram has reportedly said the main reason for Kerala’s clamour on the dam issue now is the upcoming bypoll in the Piravom Assembly segment. Reacting sharply to the remarks of Chidambaram, Chief Minister Oommen Chandy said that the high command would be approached. “What he had said should not have been said. As a national leader and as a Union Minister, his statement cannot be approved under any circumstances,” he said. Water Resources Minister P J Joseph lashed out at Chidambaram and said that with his single statement on Mullaperiyar, he had proved that he was not eligible to continue in the Union Cabinet. KPCC president Ramesh Chennithala termed the statement as extremely unfortunate.“At a time when the Prime Minister has taken the lead to find a solution to the issue, it is really unfortunate thatm Chidambaram has commented like this,” hesaid. Ramesh also said that he would bring the impropriety associated with such a statement at this juncture to the notice of the Prime Minister. Opposition Leader V S Achuthanandan demanded the ouster of Chidambaram from the Union Cabinet as he had ‘violated the Constitution and breached the oath of secrecy.’ CPM Politburo member Kodiyeri Balakrishnan has asked Prime Minister Manmohan Singh to intervene immediately and drop Chidambaram from the Cabinet.Kodiyeri was addressing a mass rally organised as part of the closing ceremony of the CPM Kozhikode district convention at Mukkom near here on Saturday.Unacceptable: K V ThomasKochi: Union Minister of State for Consumer Affairs, K V Thomas, said that P CHidambarams statements were unacceptable, especially from a man of his stature.
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